THE EIGHTH DAY

Reader Dick Hill is almost always a pleasure to listen to, but sometimes he's just amazing. Picture this: Our hero, Danny Cray, is hiding in a loft as Turkish soldiers who want to kill him are searching below. Then a snake begins crawling up Danny's leg. Hill's narration brings you to the edge--when suddenly the soldiers leave, the snake backs off, and Hill shifts into a matter-of-fact tone. This is his forte--a canny ability to adapt in an instant without missing a beat. Thus, though this plot is unreal--beginning with a supposed suicide by self-entombment--Hill's performance makes this title worthwhile. A.L.H. (c) AudioFile 2003, Portland, Maine [Published: APR/MAY 03]